GUN crime has more than doubled across the Cleveland Police area, according to shock new figures.

There were 34 offences, excluding air weapons, in the area between 2008 and 2009, compared to 15 in 2007/2008.

Despite the substantial increase, the force urged the public to view the figures in perspective.

Chief Superintendent Mark Braithwaite, head of crime operations for Cleveland Police said: “While there has been some high profile and well-reported cases involving the use of firearms, for example supermarket robberies, the total number of recorded offences included many other uses such as the unlawful shooting of game and vermin that the police are required to respond to and deal with.

“This recorded rise in total firearm offences should be viewed in that context.”

The force saw 6.1 firearms offences per 100,000 population - the highest figure in the North-east.

Northumbria and Durham both had 3.6, with 51 and 22 offences respectively. Both areas experienced reductions in gun crime.

The North-east region still boasts the lowest levels of gun crime in the country, and in North Yorkshire and the City of York there were only 1.4 firearms offences per 100,000 population - over 10 times lower than the national average.

During this period there were a total of 11 firearms offences reported in the whole of the county representing a 35% fall from 2007/08 when there were 17 such offences.

Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Mann, head of crime directorate for North Yorkshire Police, said: “We are not complacent but we are very pleased that our joint efforts have led to such low levels of firearms criminality and we intend to continue doing all that we can to keep it that way.”

Nationally, firearms offences fell 18% from 17,343 in 2007/08 to 14,250 in 2008/09.

The average number of offences involving a firearm in England and Wales in 2008/09 was 15.1 per 100,000 population and 60% of all gun crime in 2008/09 occurred in just three police force areas - Metropolitan, Greater Manchester and West Midlands.

The Met recorded 40.6 offences, Greater Manchester recorded 32.1 offences and West Midlands recorded 37.7 offences, all per 100,000 population